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Minecraft on PC. Click to open it full size.
Minecraft is a sandbox survival game for PC from Mojang Studios, available from Minecraft.net and the Microsoft Store. You explore a world made of blocks, gather wood and stone, and craft tools to build anything from a dirt hut to a castle. At night, monsters come out, so your first job is a safe place to sleep.
There is no set goal, which is what makes it different. One PC purchase gets you two versions of the game, Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. Java is the one with free community mods, and Bedrock is the one that plays with friends on consoles and phones.
Java Edition first launched in 2011. Both editions run on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and a controller works in Bedrock only. Minecraft is also part of PC Game Pass.
Already playing? Tell us what you are building right now. Got questions before you buy? Reach out to us directly.
What You Need to Know
- One purchase includes Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, both opened from the Minecraft Launcher.
- Worlds do not move between the two editions, so pick one for your main world.
- Mods are a Java Edition thing. Bedrock uses paid and free add-ons from the Minecraft Marketplace instead.
- A free trial of about 100 minutes lets you test it before buying.
- Minecraft is included with PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.
Quick Facts
How to Download Minecraft on Windows
Everything runs through the Minecraft Launcher, which installs and updates both editions. You need a Microsoft account.
- Step 1. Buy the game. Get Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition on Minecraft.net, or skip this step if you have Game Pass.
- Step 2. Download the launcher. Click Download for Windows on the Minecraft download page.
- Step 3. Install it and sign in with the Microsoft account you bought the game with.
- Step 4. Pick an edition from the list on the left: Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock) or Java Edition.
- Step 5. Click Install, then Play. The launcher keeps the game updated from then on.
Not sure yet? The free trial gives you about 100 minutes of Survival mode in either edition. You can also get Minecraft through the Xbox app with PC Game Pass, at no extra cost.
Editions and Price
All three editions include the same full game. The extras in Deluxe and Ultimate only work in Bedrock Edition, because Minecoins (the Marketplace currency), add-ons and Character Creator items are Bedrock features. If you plan to play Java, Standard is all you need.
US prices on Minecraft.net. Prices can vary by region and sale.
Game Pass option: Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition is included with PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. Try a PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate code if you want the whole library, and keep in mind the game leaves your library if the subscription ends.
What Is Minecraft?
Every world is made of blocks, and every block can be broken and placed somewhere else. Survival mode is the main game: gather, craft, build and stay alive. Creative mode gives you unlimited blocks and no danger, for when you only want to build.
Night is when zombies and skeletons come out, so build a shelter before sunset.
Underneath the Overworld are caves, mineshafts and ores like iron and diamond. A portal of obsidian leads to the Nether, a fiery second dimension, and beyond that waits the End and its dragon. Beating the dragon rolls the credits, but most players keep going for years.
A Nether portal is your first big step toward the End.
Mojang adds new mobs, blocks and places through free updates called game drops, several times a year. You can also play together: on a friend’s world, a paid Realms server (a private world hosted by Mojang), or one of the many community servers with their own game modes.
Java Edition vs Bedrock Edition on PC
You own both, so the question is which one to open. Pick Java for mods and big community servers, and Bedrock to play with friends on other devices. Plenty of players keep one world in each.
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Minecraft to see the blocky worlds, the building and the adventures waiting on PC.
Key Features
Every new world is generated fresh, with mountains, oceans, caves and villages in different places each time.
Hundreds of block types let you build houses, castles, farms or whole cities, one block at a time.
Survive monsters and hunger in Survival, or build freely with unlimited blocks in Creative.
A wiring system (redstone) lets you build doors, traps, farms and even working machines.
Join friends, rent a Realm, or hop onto community servers with their own mini-games.
Java Edition runs thousands of free community mods, and Bedrock has add-ons from the Marketplace.
A castle like this starts with one stone block and a lot of evenings.
Is This Game for You?
Our Take
🎮 Our Take
Minecraft does something few games do: it hands you a world and trusts you to decide what matters in it. The free game drops keep adding reasons to come back, and getting Java and Bedrock in one purchase is fair value on PC. The rough edges are real too. Two editions with different features confuse new players, Bedrock pushes the Marketplace hard, and Java now asks for a newer PC than its blocky look suggests.
If you want to build, explore and play at your own pace, buy it, start in Java, and add a few mods once you know the basics. If your friends or kids play on a console or phone, start in Bedrock so you can join them. If you are unsure, the free trial or Game Pass will tell you in an evening.
System Requirements
Mojang lists separate specs for each edition. Bedrock runs on almost any Windows PC, while Java now needs a 4-core CPU and a graphics card that supports Vulkan 1.3. Minecraft leans on the CPU more than the graphics card, so a faster processor helps most.
Mods and shader packs raise these numbers, so plan on the recommended spec if you want a modded Java world. If you are shopping for a new machine, our Best Gaming Desktops guide is a good place to start.
Tips for Beginners
Punch a tree first
Wood makes your crafting table, tools and first shelter. Gather a stack before you do anything else.
Shelter before sunset
Even a small dirt hut with a door keeps you safe from the first night’s zombies and skeletons.
Make a bed early
Three wool and three planks make a bed. Sleeping skips the night and sets where you come back after dying.
Never dig straight down
You can fall into a cave or lava. Dig in a staircase pattern so you can always see what is below.
Turn on coordinates
Press F3 in Java, or switch on Show Coordinates in Bedrock’s world settings, so you can always find home.
Stuck on a recipe? The community-run Minecraft Wiki lists every block, mob and crafting recipe, and Mojang’s own tips for beginners cover the first few days.
Best Minecraft Mods to Start With
Minecraft has one of the biggest mod scenes of any game, and nearly all of it is for Java Edition. Mods are free and come from two main hubs, Modrinth and CurseForge. Each mod needs a mod loader, a small program that lets the game run mods, usually Fabric or NeoForge.
These five work well together and do not change the core game, so they are a safe first step. Always check that a mod matches your game version and loader.
How to install Java mods the easy way
- Step 1. Run Java Edition once from the Minecraft Launcher so its files are in place.
- Step 2. Install a mod manager such as the Modrinth App or the CurseForge app.
- Step 3. Create a new profile. Pick a game version and a mod loader: Fabric for most performance mods, NeoForge for big content mods.
- Step 4. Add the mods you want. The app downloads the right version of each one.
- Step 5. Click Play in the mod manager. Your normal, unmodded game stays untouched.
Only download mods from Modrinth, CurseForge or the developer’s own page, never from re-upload sites. Bedrock Edition does not run Java mods; it uses add-ons from the Minecraft Marketplace instead. Many community servers ban hacked clients and X-ray packs, so leave those out if you play online.
Minecraft Screenshots
A trial chamber fight, an old mineshaft, a shader-lit jungle and two villages from across the Overworld. Click any image to open it full size.
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- Minecraft trial chamber breeze from
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- Minecraft mineshaft cave from
Minecraft FAQ
Do I get both Java and Bedrock Edition when I buy Minecraft on PC?
Can Java Edition players play with Bedrock Edition players?
Is there a free version of Minecraft for PC?
Can I play Minecraft with a controller on PC?
Do I have to buy Minecraft again on a new PC?
What are the Minecraft system requirements on PC?
Support and Community
- Minecraft official site, Mojang’s home for the game, with news, update notes and downloads.
- Minecraft Help Center, for account, purchase, launcher and install help.
- Mojang bug tracker, to report a bug or check whether one is already known.
- r/Minecraft on Reddit, the main player community for builds, questions and help.
- Official Minecraft Discord, for chatting with other players and finding people to play with.
- Modrinth and CurseForge, the two main hubs for Java Edition mods.
- Minecraft Wiki, the community reference for every block, mob and recipe.
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